Camp Athens

Camp Athens is held at Camp Lone Star which is managed by the 7^th Day Adventist Church and situated in the piney woods a few miles outside of Athens, Texas. The facility is approximately an hour’s drive southeast of downtown Dallas.  The camp offers many amenities:  plenty of air-conditioned dorm space for our campers; staff housing including private housing for most staff; an indoor air-conditioned gym for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball; swimming pool; plenty of air-conditioned meeting rooms for indoor activities; a small lake for water activities; fields for outdoor activities and sports, an archery range; staff lounge; a newly constructed worship hall where we hold the Sabbath service and which overlooks the lake, and a large kitchen and dining hall.  CYC has exclusive use of the entire facility throughout the duration of camp.

Activities are varied, ranging from many indoor activities including Christian Living and Dance to active outdoor activities. The outdoor activities vary from year to year depending on staff expertise. At present, we are planning water activities again (water polo at the pool; water skiing/tubing at nearby Lake Athens).

“Open Activities” are offered typically on three nights during camp.  Many of the daily activities are offered at this time, but other specialty activities are offered on some nights including capture the flag, table games, water skiing, and “camper/staff mixer” sporting activities. Also, campers may choose to seek proficiency awards throughout the week in archery, basketball, 1-mile swim, volleyball, water skiing, the 5-minute planking challenge, and the Bible Proficiency award (books of the Bible in order, recite the 10 Commandments in order in short form, and list the Holy Days and their meanings in order).

Camp Athens offers many opportunities to visit with fellow campers at meals, joint swimming sessions and dance classes, the lakefront activity, evening activities (including dorm team-building games on some nights) and snack time, as well as on the Sabbath and during our two all-camp dances—one early in the week and the other the final night. On Friday night, the camp enjoys a special dinner for the camp. Meal-wise, all lunches and dinners include a full salad bar.

Christian living classes, daily compass checks, Bible Q & A sessions, and group Bible games and activities—facilitated by the ministerial staff—help give a solid base of biblical instruction as well as discussion of the yearly camp theme. Additionally, campers and staff are given the opportunity to be a part of the camp choir which will sing during the Sabbath service.  Also, they can audition to potentially offer special music during the service as well.

A note to volunteer staff: For kitchen staff, it would be helpful—although not mandatory—for you to hold a current food handler’s license. We are always in need of certified lifeguards and certified archery instructors; at least one lifeguard with an “open water” certification is needed.

Camper Arrival
Campers should arrive for check-in on Sunday, July27th, starting at 3 PM and ending at 4 PM. We are unable to provide early check-in, so please do not arrive prior to 3 PM.

Staff arrival
Staff should arrive for training on the Sabbath of July 26^th. We will hold a 3 PM Sabbath service onsite at camp, eat dinner after, and begin staff training that night after sunset.

Travel Information
We provide transportation free of charge from DFW International and Dallas Love Field airports to camp and back again for those who travel by air, but please try to arrange flight arrival times on Sunday, July 27th, between noon and 3 p.m. and flight departures on Sunday, August 3^rd, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you’re arriving by private vehicle, please arrive between 3 and 4 p.m. on July 27th. We are unable to provide early check-in since our staff is involved with camp planning prior to 3 PM. For extenuating circumstances, please reach out to the camp director.